Yesterday, Yeovil Town missed out on four players that would have significantly boosted Gary Jonhson's rebuild for next season. No surprise that Andy Williams has a new club lined up after his scoring exploits, and no surprise that new fatherJonathan Grounds prefers not to locate so far from his north-east roots. Dominic Blizzard and Jonathan Franks have not responded in time for the manager's deadline. While there is no doubt they are all very good players we wanted to keep, the reality is that giving a deadline and sticking to it has still given us an improved position of strength compared to recent years. So much so, that I am planning to keep my green-tinted specs (and they really do exist) well and truly dusted.

With a serious attempt to retain key players as best we can and to sign up a couple of the loan players, followed by a genuine and early deadline, the tail isn't wagging the dog this year and that is a crucial difference. It is a policy that has already helped us get Ed Upson, Luke Ayling and Gavin Williams signed again. Supporters considering whether to buy season tickets before the discounted prices end, and potential players who are being courted by the manager, can all see the club is sincere about aiming higher. Now recruitment is a positive strategy, and not a slave to to the over-caution that has in the past wrongly been labelled under 'prudence'.

Sir Gary hasn't let a smaller budget cause him to pussy-foot around in early summer and hand the initiative to players wanting time to shop around. That puts the club on the front foot, despite a lack of financial clout, and gives a positive message to potential players that Huish Park next season is a place of ambition and not merely a convenient provider of wages.

At the end of the day, financial constraint does not mean that you cannot form a positive approach. After all, money still had to be spent on players so it might as well be spent by use of a strategy that is in your favour. Act like a pauper, and get treated like a pauper. Act with positivity and it can regenerate positivity throughout the club that carries on with recurring impact. Genuine financial caution can happily sit inside that theory.

Sad not to get those players, but on the back of the positive approach that led to their decisions, this signals overall that the manager is going to build strongly on the base that the three signings to-date have give him. I very much hope that Paul Huntington also renews, but the bottom-line is that now we have a credible positive recruitment plan that means that whatever way it turns out it will be the right decision. And while the shift in direction by the Board can be applauded, it further shows how much potential we could fulfil if Gary Johnson was in in place with owners and a Board who were more aligned to his philosophy on contract offers and in general.

It comes down now as to how the manager turns a situation of gaining control of his summer recruitment into one of a rebuilt squad that will make us stronger in League One. In his previous tenures at Peterborough and Northampton he has been slated on some key player choices that haven't turned out well, and there are a few from his earlier Huish Park days starting with Andy Turner that fell very short of expectation. But we know that when he gets it right he gets it very right, and has pretty much done that since January. With him back 'home' and green and white optimism already lifted since his return, we have positive reason to hope he will recruit well and we will compete stronger next season.

Pretty much agree.
Franks and Grounds were always unlikely given their geographical situation. AW's agent was always going to cash in on a (temporarily?) hot property. Didn't really know what to expect with Bliz. Wouldn't be a great surprise if Hunts moved closer to his northern roots.
At least GJ is in a position to get on with recruitment plans rather than being kept dangling till the last minute.
15/05/2012 14:49:21

camelgreen said ...

Agree with other postings, Suffering once again from short contracts Mr Fry! But at least Mr Johnson is changing that. Regarding Blizzard it will be interesting to see where he ends up, not very good when he arrived and only pretty average now. I would like Hinds to come back bit of experience in defence.
15/05/2012 21:22:56

Matt E said ...

I have to admit my disappointment that Blizzard isn't staying on, he formed a useful partnership with Ed in the centre of midfield. I agree with GJ about Andy Williams, he needed another solid, goal scoring season before moving on to potentially greater things. How many strikers have a great season only to move on and promptly disappear completely at a higher level/bigger club!? Fleetwood was an obvious example, Benson this year, there are countless others.

We really need Hunts to sign up and yes, a keeper too please!
15/05/2012 22:46:59

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